Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

loan. If Avco gets station, Hubbard still has his 25%, gets management contract, then comes under Avco’s broadcasting chief, James Shouse. Avco and/or Hubbard would go forward with TV-FM plans, which trustees of controlling estates were loath to do because of big capital outlay, said to be one of reasons for willingness to sell out. Deal ends bidding for station, in which Ridder and Cowles newspaper interests, Marshall Field and Westinghouse are said to have participated. THE CUSTOMEH-BE-SEHVED: As solution to pal pable need for dependable home radio servicing, which will be greatly increased with mass distribution of new FM and TV sets. New York Times* T. S. Kennedy recently proposed more organizations like rapidly-growing Philadelphia Service Men’s Assn., non-profit membership group promoting trade ethics and work standards. Possible evolution to American Automobile Assn, type of membership service for radio, has long been foreseen. Alleviated only slightly as yet by return of radiotrained vets, customer-be-damned attitude still prevails among many radio service shops, not to mention oft-justified suspicion that they do plenty of gypping. The problem of television-set servicemen is expected to be solved in New York, where Board of Education is now expanding its year-old video vocational courses to include repairs, construction, installation of TV receivers. Video courses include FM, are part of long-established radio curriculum now offered either to war veterans or industry apprentices. Chicago, growing TV-conscious and TV-conscientious, has 3 groups bestirring themselves about installation and servicing problems. Television Associates, sparked by TV station WBKB, estimates $60 as average installation charge, figures 2-man team can put in two a day. Commonwealth Edison says 4 per day per team. R. L. Cam, service department chief of R. Cooper Jr. Inc., GE distributor, puts number at one a day at cost of about $50. All are concerned over blank TV pages in most radio repairmen’s education. And in Philadelphia, WPEN’s 12-week TV course, in association with the Appliance Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia, begins Sept. 30. Dealers, servicemen and salesman will undergo course of sprouts in theory and techniques of video, with second half of program devoted to demonstrations by various manufacturers. Commercially, TV manufacturers contemplate service organizations to work with dealers on receiver installations and servicing. Latest to announce setups are RCA, DuMont, Viewtone and U. S. Television. TV RELAY TANGLE: So tangled has problem of TV relay and STL allocations become, what with varied objections raised against proposed assignments (Vol. 2, Nos. 29, 32, 33), that principals concerned (telecasters, AT&T, manufacturers) believe an informal conference is best way of settling matter. So, next week you can look for FCC to approve round table meeting as a means of resolving conflicts, thus saving expense and time of oral arguments. Meanwhile, FCC this week granted New York Telephone Co. authority for 90 days to act as common carrier for remote TV pickups in New York City. Grant, first of its nature, covers 3 stations on 4220 and 4380 me, employing just 1 watt with highly directional antenna. Company says tests between Hollywood and Mt. Wilson, with similar equipment, have been very successful. Since experimental TV rules (under which remote pickup falls) say only TV licensees can do pickup by radio, this is obviously an exception. Company can start service (for sports, etc.) when it files rates with FCC. WBAl LEGAL BATTLE LINES: Few if any observers of the radio scene, notably among the Washington legal fraternity, were inclined either to laugh off or to discount the vital implications of the PearsonAlien application for Hearst’s 50 kw WBAL facilities in Baltimore (Vol. 2, No. 38). We asked the opinion of a dozen or more lawyers. Only one said he thought it a “publicity stunt” for Drew Pearson’s column, which has assiduously refrained from mentioning the application. Several gave Pearson-Allen 30-70 or 40-60 chance before Commission, and an even chance in courts if they win Commission round. Consensus seemed to be here was chance for FCC to test its powers, show whether it means business in its citations of stations on basis of “unbalanced programming.” Guessing was that oft-dissenting “liberal” Commissioners Durr and Walker would welcome chance to crack down not only on WBAL (which has reportedly done valiant job of cleaning up horrible examples cited in Blue Book) but on other stations cited for program or other reasons (6 more were set for license renewal hearings last week). Meanwhile, Cohn & Marks law firm was seeking to intervene in WBAL license renewal hearing, first set for Oct. 1 but postponed until Dec. 1, while Hearst counsel Thursday filed opposition to intervention. Indicating its deep concern, Hearst added William J. Dempsey, onetime FCC general counsel, to its legal forces — Thomas P. Littlepage Jr. and John J. Burns, onetime SEC general counsel. As for NAB intervention, it was regarded as unlikely in early phases, though it is hell-bent to